The Football Association is in the “final stages” of appointing a new UAE manager, as former Al Ain and Al Ahli manager Cosmin Olaroiu continues to be linked with the role.
The FA has decided on a shortlist of four names, with Spain's Under-21 head coach Luis de la Fuente and Al Dhafra manager Vuk Rasovic thought to be two of the candidates considered.
Olaroiu has emerged as another potential appointment, although the FA has thus far not confirmed his inclusion among the final quartet. The Romanian, currently manager of Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning, was on the FA’s initial list.
Asked on Sunday night during an interview on Dubai Sports if Olaroiu and Rasovic were two of the four remaining names being considered, FA president Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi said: "I don't have the names of the four shortlisted now, but the names of the two you have mentioned are among the 12 coaches in the first list we observed.
“I am not sure if they are among the four shortlisted, but it is a matter of time - days, weeks - before we announce the selected coach who we find the most suitable for the role in the next phase."
The FA's national-team committee has accelerated its search for a manager since confirmation last week that the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, postponed because of the coronavirus, have been rescheduled for October and November.
With four matches in round two remaining, the UAE sit fourth in Group G, five points off leaders Vietnam, although they do have a game in hand over all of their rivals.
Only the group winners are guaranteed to progress to the third round of qualification, alongside the four best runners-up from the eight groups.
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Best photos from UAE v Thailand
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The UAE's Omar Abdulrahman, right, and Phitiwat Sukjitthammakul of Thailand. EPA -
UAE's Tareq Ahmed, right. Reuters -
Thailand's Nitipong Selanon clears the ball. EPA -
Thailand's Manuel Bihr holds off Ali Saleh of the UAE. Reuters -
UAE's Khalil Ibrahim races away from Theerathon Bunmathan of Thailand. Reuters -
UAE's Ali Mabkhout surrounded by Thailand players. Reuters -
The UAE's Ahmed Barman, left, and Teerasil Dangda of Thailand. Reuters -
Thailand's Teerasil Dangda, second right, scores the opening goal. EPA -
Ali Mabkhout of the UAE celebrates after making it 1-1. EPA -
Ali Mabkhout of the UAE celebrates with teammates after making it 1-1. EPA -
Thailand's Sarach Yooyen shoots at goal. Reuters -
UAE's Ali Mabkhout, left, celebrates after making it 1-1. EPA -
Thailand manager Akira Nishino. Reuters -
UAE's Ali Ahmed Mabkhout heads home. Reuters -
Thailand's Eakkanit Punya has his shirt pulled by Mohammed Barqesh of the UAE. Reuters -
Thailand's Teerasil Dangda celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal. EPA -
Thailand's Eakkanit Punya celebrates with manager Akira Nishino after scoring their second goal . Reuters
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The national team take on Malaysia at home on October 8, before facing Indonesia away five days later. They round off their campaign against Thailand and Vietnam, both at home, on November 12 and 17. Venues for the home matches have yet to be confirmed.
Ivan Jovanovic was originally tasked with guiding the UAE through those final four qualifiers, but was dismissed in April without having managed a match.
"We are now in the final stages to settle the file that the team's committee worked on,” Sheikh Rashid told Dubai Sports.
“They have studied during all this period a great number of coaches’ CVs before shortlisting four coaches based on specific rules and regulations.
“The suggested names were shown to the board of directors and we have given the green light to the committee to start negotiating with the most suitable coach. So, we are now in the final stages of the selection and we will announce it, if God wills, this month."
